We went down the A12 and rang at Galleywood (eight bells) and then at this nice little church,Downham which had six bells... and a dovecot outside the church with real doves......
Then it was onto Basildon and its famous, or should we say infamous, bell tower. It was built as a Millennium project - but it turned out that, although the tower had been built, there was no money to pay for the project, despite what the then vicar had said. The vicar retired in shame and the builders sued for their money, leaving the tower unused. The parishioners had to work very hard to raise the money owed! However, it is now in use...You can see the ringing room (darkened room with sunshades) and in the uppermost room below the canopy, the ring of eight bells. We had a good practice here...the tower does sway rather alarmingly when the bells ring in certain combinations ...it was 26 C even with several fans going - and I imagine it can get very cold in the winter, judging from the number of heaters seen. I suspect that the best place for bells is in a sturdy church tower or other structure...
Here are two of our ringers - you can see the reinforcement ties.
After lunch, we went to Prittlewell, a lovely ten rehung recently by Whitechapel, and also used as a ringing centre (school).
With the light fading, the last tower was Great Baddow, an easy going eight.
Close to home, Helmingham have just been rehung by Whitechapel - looking forward to a first ring on these bells which used to be a handful to ring properly. The bells were first installed to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo in 1812 - the idea was to rehang them in time for 2012, the 200th anniversary. The bells are now back in and the bellhangers have finished thier work. The dedication service will be in October.
Here are two of our ringers - you can see the reinforcement ties.
After lunch, we went to Prittlewell, a lovely ten rehung recently by Whitechapel, and also used as a ringing centre (school).
With the light fading, the last tower was Great Baddow, an easy going eight.
Close to home, Helmingham have just been rehung by Whitechapel - looking forward to a first ring on these bells which used to be a handful to ring properly. The bells were first installed to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo in 1812 - the idea was to rehang them in time for 2012, the 200th anniversary. The bells are now back in and the bellhangers have finished thier work. The dedication service will be in October.A photo of Mike and me - the discarded bell fittings are behind us at the rear of the church.
Great Baddow is very close to where we live, we thought we heard ringing this afternoon.
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Sft x
Amazing! Isn't it a small world.....!
ReplyDeleteYou look like you're having a lot of fun.
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